Alleged G20 firestarter wants his lawyer back

A Windsor man charged with torching a police cruiser during June G20 protests — who initially pleaded guilty, then withdrew the plea and fired his lawyer — has reversed his position again.

Nicodemo Catenacci, who strode into court Friday wearing jeans and mirrored sunglasses, announced he wanted to rehire lawyer Erin Dann and continue with his guilty plea.

Appearing frustrated and conflicted as he addressed an Ontario court judge, Mr. Catenacci explained he has been unable to retain a new lawyer since his March court date.

“It’s just been tough getting a lawyer… It’s been a very confusing thing,” Mr. Catenacci told Justice Fern Weinper, noting every lawyer he has approached has demanded an “outrageous” sum of money to handle his case.

He said he had apologized to Ms. Dann — who he fired in March after complaining she “convinced” him to plead guilty — and wanted to retain her services again in order to move forward with the guilty plea.

Shortly after the words left his mouth, Crown attorney Elizabeth Nadeau asked the judge for a recess, and accompanied Mr. Catenacci out of the courtroom.

When they returned about an hour later with a temporary defence lawyer, Mr. Catenacci asked for 60 days to “straighten it out” with Ms. Dann’s firm. After Judge Weinper indicated it was unlikely Ms. Dann would take on the case again, Mr. Catenacci said he would continue to search for a new lawyer.

“It’s a very difficult situation,” Mr. Catenacci said, adding he keeps “hoping this thing will go away, but it won’t.”

Judge Weinper gave him 30 days, noting despite his turnaround on the guilty plea, sentencing would have to wait until the accused had a lawyer to represent him — particularly after his last court date, when Mr. Catenacci essentially argued he was innocent.

“In light of these remarks… I am not prepared to proceed to sentencing today,” Judge Weinper said, setting a new court date for May 13.

Mr. Catenacci, who initially pleaded guilty to arson in the case, admitted he threw a lit piece of paper into a police cruiser during a G20 riot on Toronto streets. He explained he was high that day on cocaine, which clouded his judgement.

During his sentencing hearing in March, however, Mr. Catenacci said the lit paper did not ignite a blaze, and he “never wanted to plead guilty” to the crime. After telling the judge he was being treated “unfairly” and being granted time to obtain new counsel — whom he was supposed to have hired by Friday — Mr. Catenacci stormed out of court, shouting at the police officers who handled the case: “We’re going to play hardball now.”

The Crown was requesting a prison sentence of up to two years, citing Mr. Catenacci’s 17 prior convictions, mostly for theft and breach of court orders.